go THE MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA
told her, through my servant, the day and hour I was
leaving, and the gate through which I should pass. She was
there to the moment, got into my carnage, and we have
never left each other since. She gave me to understand that
she wanted to go to Parma with me, that she had business
there, and that she would never go back to Rome. You may
imagine what difficulty we had in explaining ourselves. I
could not even tell her that if she was followed and taken
from me by violence, I could not protect her. I have not
the slightest idea who or what she is. She says her name is
Henriette; she may or may not be French; she is as gentle
as a lamb, and seems to have had a good education; she is
strong and healthy; she is witty and courageous both, as she
has testified. If she will tell you her story, and let you
translate it to me in French, it will please me immensely, for
I am sincerely her friend, and shall be very sorry when we
part at Parma. Tell her, I beg you, that I shall make her a
present of thirty sequins, and that if I were rich I would
give her more.5
When I translated the captain's speech to Henriette she
blushed, but frankly confirmed what he had said.
Tell him,5 she said, 'that the same principle which pre-
vents me from lying prevents me from speaking the truth.
As to the thirty sequins, please to assure him that I shall not
accept one, that he will only distress me if he insists. When
we get to Parma, I want him to bid me good-bye, and let
me go where it seems best to me, without inquiring where
that may be, and if he should meet me by chance, let him
add to his kindness by not appearing to recognise me/
The poor captain was somewhat mortified by this little
speech, and asked me to tell her that before he could agree
to her request he must be certain that she had all she wanted.
'You can say/ said she, 'that he need have no uneasiness
on my account/
After this conversation we remained silent for a time,
and therTT rose and wished them good night. Henriette
blushed crimson.